# **Fort Drelev – The Faltering Bulwark of the Western Stolen Lands** ## **Basic Information** - **Name:** Fort Drelev - **Type:** Military Settlement / Feudal Holding - **Region:** Western Stolen Lands, bordering Pitax and Numeria - **Scale & Population:** Small, **formerly well-fortified but now struggling**, population around **800-1,200 people**. - **Primary Inhabitants:** - **Humans (Majority, mostly Brevic settlers and mercenaries)** - **Half-orcs and exiles from Numeria** - **Soldiers, outlaws, and political refugees** - **Climate & Terrain:** Rolling **plains and riverlands**, **bordering swamps** where **dangerous creatures and hostile tribes** lurk. --- ## **Geography & Layout** - **Key Features & Landmarks:** - **Drelev Keep:** The **fortress at the heart of the settlement**, once a symbol of Brevic control, now weakened by corruption and recent conflicts. - **The Slums:** A **growing area of refugees, mercenaries, and outlaws**, many **resentful of their leadership**. - **The Western Wall:** A partially collapsed defensive structure, **still under repair**, but vulnerable to attacks. - **The Black Bog:** A nearby **swamp filled with lizardfolk tribes and hidden dangers**, used for smuggling and clandestine meetings. - **Pitaxian Watchpoints:** Small **outposts controlled by Pitax**, placed **just outside Drelev’s territory**, monitoring its movements. - **Notable Districts/Areas:** - **The Merchant’s Quarter:** Struggling due to **high taxation and limited trade**, leading to underground black-market dealings. - **The Soldier’s Barracks:** **Understaffed and demoralized**, many troops are **either deserters or double-agents** for Pitax. - **The Outer Camps:** Home to **exiles, mercenaries, and desperate settlers**, some willing to **sell information to Rivermarch, Pitax, or Brevoy**. - **Connections & Accessibility:** - **Formerly a key Brevic outpost, now barely holding on.** - **Roads to Pitax and Rivermarch are increasingly dangerous**, with **bandits and spies on both sides**. - **Small river trade exists, but smugglers dominate the routes.** --- ## **Culture & Society** - **Local Governance:** - **Baron [[Hannis Drelev]]** is the official ruler, but **his power is slipping**. - **His wife, Baroness [[Pavetta Drelev]], holds more real influence**, using **political schemes to maintain control**. - **A small, corrupt noble court runs the fort**, prioritizing **their own wealth over stability**. - **Economy & Trade:** - **Heavy taxes and failing trade routes have driven merchants away.** - **Pitax exerts economic influence**, offering bribes to weaken Drelev’s defenses. - **Desperate laborers and mercenaries sell their skills to the highest bidder.** - **Religion & Beliefs:** - **Gorum (War) and Abadar (Wealth & Law)** are still worshipped, but faith in the government is declining. - **Lizardfolk of the Black Bog revere their own mysterious swamp gods.** - **Laws & Customs:** - **Treason is harshly punished**, but many **officials are secretly working with Pitax**. - **Mercenary culture thrives**, with **deserters from both Pitax and Brevoy finding refuge here.** - **Dueling is common**, but more for survival than honor. - **Languages Spoken:** - **Common, Taldane (Brevic), Numerian Dialects, Undercommon (used by smugglers).** --- ## **History & Lore** - **Origins & Founding:** - Founded by **Baron [[Hannis Drelev]]**, a noble granted **a charter by Brevoy to control the western Stolen Lands**. - Meant to be **a stronghold against Pitaxian expansion**, but has **since fallen into decline**. - **Major Historical Events:** - **Failed Expansion:** Drelev’s army was **routed by Numerian raiders**, weakening its reputation. - **Pitaxian Pressure:** **King Irovetti has slowly manipulated Fort Drelev’s leadership**, turning it into a **puppet state in waiting**. - **Rivermarch’s Rise:** **With Rivermarch growing, some in Fort Drelev see it as a possible alternative to Pitaxian rule.** - **Current Conflicts or Issues:** - **Loyalty is Split:** Some of Drelev’s **leaders and soldiers have already turned to Pitax**. - **Smuggling and Criminal Networks Thrive:** The Black Bog **serves as a haven for deserters, criminals, and spies**. - **The Baron is Weakening:** His rule **is propped up by ruthless crackdowns**, but **if another power were to step in, Fort Drelev could fall.** - **Rumors & Mysteries:** - **A Hidden Resistance:** Some citizens secretly **oppose Drelev’s rule** and might seek **aid from Rivermarch or Restov**. - **A Pitaxian Coup?:** If Drelev’s government collapses, **Pitax may fully absorb the fort without bloodshed**. - **The Swamp’s Secrets:** The Black Bog **hides more than lizardfolk**—some whisper of **a lost treasure or a forgotten relic**. --- ## **Notable NPCs & Factions** - **Key Figures:** - **Baron [[Hannis Drelev]]:** A **once-proud noble**, now **desperate to hold onto power**. - **Baroness [[Pavetta Drelev]]:** The **real political mind behind the throne**, ruthless and cunning. - **General [[Aemon Trask]]:** The **commander of Drelev’s army**, frustrated by corruption, possibly open to outside influence. - **[[Mosswater Syndicate]]:** A powerful **black-market guild**, controlling **smuggling, gambling, and illegal trade**. - **Factions or Power Groups:** - **The Loyalists:** Small but **fiercely devoted** to Baron Drelev, believing Rivermarch and Restov are just as treacherous as Pitax. - **The Pitaxian Agents:** Secret **supporters of Irovetti**, slowly turning Drelev into a puppet state. - **The Outlaw Coalition:** **A mix of rebels, smugglers, and mercenaries**, looking for a chance to overthrow Drelev. - **Major Monsters or Threats:** - **Lizardfolk Raiding Parties:** **Some tribes resist Drelev’s rule**, seeing the settlers as invaders. - **Pitaxian Saboteurs:** **Spies working to destabilize the fort, so Pitax can take control.** - **Unknown Swamp Dangers:** The Black Bog **may hold ancient creatures or forgotten horrors.** --- ## **Additional Notes** - **Vibe & Inspirations:** - **A city on the brink of collapse, caught between Rivermarch and Pitax.** - **Think “Deadwood meets Game of Thrones,” with lawlessness, corruption, and secret power struggles.** - **A mix of a frontier fort, a criminal hideout, and a failed noble experiment.** - **Adventure Hooks:** - **An Opportunity for Rivermarch:** Some in Fort Drelev **may defect if given the right push**. - **A Coup in the Making:** Is it possible to **overthrow Drelev before Pitax moves in?** - **Secrets of the Black Bog:** What **lurks beneath the swamp’s surface**, waiting to be uncovered? - **Pitax’s Next Move:** If Drelev **falls, does Rivermarch act—or wait to see what happens?**